‘Immense pride’ as Worthing dementia home awarded top standard

A dementia nursing home has become the first on the south coast to achieve a top-level accreditation.

Guild Care said just one per cent of care homes audited by the Dementia Care Matters organisation each year meet the level 1 ‘butterfly’ standard.

But despite this, Haviland House in Goring has seen two of its households – Bramber and Clapham – awarded the accreditation after a visit in December.

Explaining the scheme, Chris Walton-Turner, registered manager at the time, said: “Adopting the ‘butterfly’ model has been about creating a calm and happy place that feels like home for our family members; an environment where

relatives will have the confidence that their loved one will be ok, they’ll thrive, they will be with someone who will know them inside and make them feel connected.

“Since using this approach the difference has been incredible, the home has been completely transformed.”

Mr Walton-Turner, who has since returned to his role as a director at the charity, said the recognition was ‘fantastic’ and he was ‘immensely proud’ of the team, given the difficulty of making the grade.

He said: “Before our service was providing good, safe care but it wasn’t always meeting people’s emotional, social and psychological needs in the way that we do today.

“Now the atmosphere is far more relaxed, our staff no longer wear uniforms and we no longer follow strict routines.

“Everyone is smiling, our family members form friendships with each other, there’s lots of dancing, laughing andjoking. There is no longer a feeling of them and us, staff work and live alongside

people – they share personal stories, they connect, they support each other as one big family.”

The ‘Butterfly’ model is now being extended across the remaining three households at Haviland House.

Mr Walton Turner said: “From a personal point of view introducing the butterfly model has been very challenging, but also extremely rewarding to see how it has improved morale amongst not only our staff but most importantly improved the wellbeing and quality of life of our family members.